LICENSE Act of 2025
LICENSE Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of the LICENSE Act of 2025 The LICENSE Act would make it easier and faster for people to get commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) by relaxing federal testing requirements. Specifically, it would allow state examiners and third-party testers who already hold valid CDL certifications to administer the written knowledge test after completing just one training unit, rather than following more stringent requirements. The bill would also let applicants take their driving skills test in any state, regardless of where they live or trained, instead of being restricted to their home state. The bill affects truck drivers and commercial vehicle operators seeking CDLs, as well as state transportation agencies and private testing companies that administer these exams.
The changes are intended to make the licensing process more efficient, similar to temporary waivers the government used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the bill is in committee in the Senate, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet been debated or voted on.
CRS Official Summary
Licensing Individual Commercial Exam-takers Now Safely and Efficiently Act of 2025 or the LICENSE Act of 2025 This bill requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA) to revise regulations to relax certain requirements related to commercial driver's license (CDL) testing.Specifically, the FMCA must allow a state or third-party examiner who has maintained a valid CDL test examiner certification and has previously completed a CDL skills test examiner training course to administer the CDL knowledge test, so long as they have completed one unit of instruction regarding the CDL knowledge test.The FMCA must also allow a state to administer a driving skills test to any CDL applicant regardless of the applicant's state of domicile or where the applicant received driver training.As background, the FMCA implemented temporary waivers for similar CDL testing-related requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These waivers have since expired.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.